After turning down jobs like UCLA in recent years, Shaka Smart is off to Texas, taking over the Longhorns program.
The news comes just under a week after Texas fired former head coach Rick Barnes and amid speculation about UT courting names like Gregg Marshall of Wichita State and Jay Wright of Villanova.
ICYMI: Shaka Smart is leaving VCU to become head coach at Texas. » http://t.co/O04ewjBETq
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 3, 2015
Smart began his tenure at VCU in 2009, but became a household name in 2011 when he led the Rams to the Final Four. It was the program’s first trip beyond the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.
Known for his “Havoc” defense and up-tempo style of play, pressure will be on Smart from day one to reverse the negative momentum surrounding the Texas basketball brand. Unlike his predecessor, Smart will be expected win recruiting battles in Dallas and Houston over in-state foes like Baylor and SMU. Given his recruiting at SMU, and the increased institutional support he’ll have at UT, it would not be a surprise to see the Longhorns start winning those battles.
According to both ESPN.com and Scout.com, Smart has already sent out offers to two 2016 prospects, one in Vermont and one in Virginia.
What will be most interesting to watch though, will be how Smart handles the booster culture in Austin.
Not known as one of his strengths, Smart will have to cater to a higher number of influential boosters than he has had to in his entire coaching career. These boosters aren’t just important to the athletic department for their checks, but they are the voices in the communities of Texas where support, or opposition, is conjured up by the masses.
